Facsimile transceiver construction



March 3, 1970 G. A. REEsE 3,499,111

FACSIMILE TRANSCEIVER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m ren/roxzw' ae/vA/A 266.1%

March 3, 1970 G. A. REESE FACSIMILE TRANSCEIVER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1966 f 74 M'M United States Patent US. Cl. 1787.6 38 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to facsimile apparatus which includes a platen disposed at the front of the apparatus and movable between open and closed positions. The platen is provided with a configuration corresponding to a section of a cylinder and is constructed to support a sheet in a configuration corresponding to a section of a cylinder when the platen is in the open and closed positions and is being moved between the open and closed positions.

The platen defines a cylinder with a housing in the closed position. First means are provided for moving the platen to the closed position and second means are provided for disengaging the first means with the platen near the closed position and for accurately guiding the platen to the closed position. Third means are provided for locking the platen to the housing in the closed position.

A fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide is provided with an axis corresponding to the axis of the platen in the closed position of the platen. First roller means are provided on the guide and second roller means are provided on the platen. When the platen is in the closed position, the first and second roller means cooperate to drive the sheet of paper in the axial direction.

Broadly described, the present invention is directed to the problem of mounting a cylindrically curved closure member on a fixed structure with full assurance that the closure member at its closed position will be accurately concentric to the longitudinal axis of the fixed structure. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to the specific problem of constructing a front loading facsimile transceiver unit of the character disclosed in application Ser. No. 669,315 filed Sept. 20, 1967 on behalf of Glenn A. Reese and Paul J. Crane entitled Facsimile Systems, which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 549,759 (now abandoned) filed Apr. 21, 1966 and entitled Facsimile Systems, which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 176,248 (now abandoned) filed Feb. 28, 1962 and entitled Facsimile Systems and US. patent application Ser. No. 494,053, filed Oct. 8, 1965.

In such a unit, a paper in the form of a document to be copied or in the form of a blank to be printed is scanned transversely by a scanning means that rotates orbitally about the longitudinal axis of the device. The paper is curved concentrically of the longitudinal axis of rotation, the curved paper being of the configuration of a longitudinal section of a cylinder and the curved paper is moved longitudinally at a given rate through a transverse scanning zone. The circumferential dimension of the section of a cylinder may, for example, be approximately 180 or slightly less.

At the scanning zone the paper backs snugly against a concave platen and for acceptable results the concave surface of the platen must be precisely concentric to the scanning axis. An inner convex guide structure cooperates ice with the inner curved surface of the sheet and has a transverse opening to clear the scanning zone. This inner convex guide cooperates with the outer concave platen to form a guideway of arcuate cross section along which the paper is moved during the scanning operation. Suitable drive rollers and cooperating idler rollers advance the paper longitudinally at the desired rate.

Because the concentricity of the inner surface of the concave platen relative to the scanning axis is highly critical at the scanning it has been the practice heretofore to make the platen a fixed part of the unit, the guideway being open along one side to provide a slot into which the successive papers may be inserted. In prior embodiments of such a unit the outer concave guide is on the rear side of the device and the entrance to the guideway is a longitudinal slot on the upper side of the device into which the successive sheets may be lowered.

Such a prior construction is acceptable but, nevertheless, has a troublesome disadvantage in that the interior of the guideway is difficult of access and is largely concealed. Even with exceptional care at the cost of slowing down production, a newly inserted paper may be inadvertently misaligned in the guideway with consequent malfunctioning of the device.

The present invention meets this situation by radical reorganization of the prior structure. Instead of the scanning zone being at the rear of the unit, the scanning zone is located at the front so that the concave platen becomes a front wall of the unit. Instead of the concave platen being fixed it is removable. Thus the concave platen becomes a closure member that may be moved to open position for full exposure of both the concave and convex surfaces of the guideway.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the concave platen or closure member swings forward and downward to an open position and with the platen in its open position, it is a simple matter to lay a sheet of paper on the curved inner surface of the platen in abutment against a longitudinal guide shoulder with the leading end of the paper aligned with a suitable index mark. The platen member may then be swung upward to closed position to permit the paper to be advanced longitudinally through the scanning zone.

The problem is to provide means for mounting the platen on the fixed structure in such manner that the scanning zone of the platen is accurately concentric to the scanning axis each time that the platen is swung to its closed position. The problem may be appreciated when it is considered that if a conventional hinge connection is employed to mount the platen on the fixed structure, the wear that is concentrated at the hinge inevitably results in serious even though slight misalignment of the scanning zone defined by the platen. On the other hand, if a sophisticated hinge construction is contrived with large coacting areas to reduce wear, the structure becomes cumbersome and unduly expensive for mass production.

Broadly described the present invention solves this problem by hinging the platen for movement between a maximum open position and a nearly closed position and divorcing the platen completely from the hinge as the platen reaches its completely closed position. At the closed position, the platen is positioned accurately on the fixed structure independently of the hinge by mating surfaces on the platen and fixed structure, respectively, and by a positioning pin in cooperation with a complementary positioning recess. Any possibility of wear of the mating surfaces that determine the closed position of the platen is eliminated by precluding relative sliding movement between the mating surfaces. Thus any inaccuracy that may exist in the construction of the hinge or may be created in time by wear of the relatively movable parts of the hinge can have no effect whatsoever on the closed position of the platen.

A further important feature of the invention is made possible by the change to front loading. This feature is the provision of a longitudinal window along the upper part of the front platen through which the travel of the paper along the guideway may be observed. The above and other features of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

The drawings are largely diagrammatic for the sake of clarity and are to be considered as merely illustrative.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the scanning arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a simplified elevational view of the device with the platen swung beyond its usual open position, the platen being swung open 180 for a clear showing of structure that is pertinent to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified end elevation of the device as viewed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the platen omitted and with portions of the housing broken away to reveal concealed structure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the line 44 of FIG. 3 showing the cross-sectional configuration of a longitudinal shoulder on the platen that guides the paper in its longitudinal movement;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled unit with the platen closed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5 showing the construction of a spring-loaded latch for holding the platen in its closed position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the latch released with the platen at a slightly open position;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic cross section showing the platen at its fully open position with the parts of the pivotal hinge in mutual engagement;

FIG. 9 is a similar view showing the platen at its nearly closed position with the parts of the hinge still in mutual engagement;

FIG. 10 is a similar view showing the latch at its fully closed position with the parts of the hinge out of mutual engagement;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 9 showing how lower mating surfaces of the platen and fixed structure respectively make mutual contact at the partially open position of the platen to serve as fulcrum means during the completion of the closing of the platen; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the two lower surfaces in face-to-face abutment with the parts of the hinge separated.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically how a scanning assembly rotating on the longitudinal axis of a transceiver housing, generally designated 22, is adapted to scan a piece of paper 24 On a concave platen 25, the platen being of the configuration of a longitudinal section of a cylinder that is concentric to the axis 20. The paper is movable longitudinally along the inner concave surface of the platen 25 by a series of rollers including a first power driven roller 26 paired with an idler roller 28 and a second power driven roller 30 paired with a second idler roller. A third power driven roller paired with a third idler roller will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

The scanning assembly which rotates about the axis 20 includes a lamp 34, an arcuate reflector that concentrates the light in a beam converging on the scanning zone, a radially positioned optical scanner 36, reflecting light from the op ical scanner a o g the a is 20 o a sui ab e 4 transducer (not shown), and a radially positioned writing means 40 which may, for example, be a stylus for printing an image by applied pressure.

FIG. 5 shows the completely assembled transceiver unit which may have a housing 22 of box-like external configuration with a front closure member, generally designated 42, that incorporates the previously mentioned platen 25. The closure member 42 in this particular embodiment of the invention is of hollow construction with the platen 25 (not shown in FIG. 5) serving as the inner wall of the closure member and with the outer wall 44 of the closure member having an upper longitudinal window 45 through which the travel of the paper may be observed. The longitudinal window 45 may be spanned by a suitable sheet of translucent plastic. The housing 22 is provided with pedestals 46 at its opposite ends respectively which may support the housing on a table 48 at a slight elevation above the table, the elevation being sufficient to permit the closure member 42 to swing open through an angle on the order of The closure member 42 is provided with a latch 50 for releasable engagement with the fixed structure or housing 22 to hold the closure member in its closed position. The housing is further provided with suitable control buttons 52 relating to the scanning operation.

As shown in front elevation in FIG. 2 and in side elevation in FIG. 3, the fixed structure of the unit includes an inner convex guide, generally designated 54, of cylindrical curvature to cooperate with the platen at the closed position of the platen to form a guideway for the longitudinal movement of the paper through the scanning zone.

FIG. 2 shows the convex guide 54 in front elevation and for the purpose of clarity or illustration shows the closure member 42 also in front elevation, the closure member being swung downward from its normal closed position. It is to be understood, however, that the nonnal open position of the cover is approximately 75 as indicated in FIG. 8.

The convex guide 54 has an outer convex surface formed by sheet material with a transverse gap 55 in the sheet material to clear the transverse scanning zone. The paper travels from left to right as the structure is viewed in FIG. 2. The previously mentioned idler rollers 28 and 32 as well as a third idler roller 60 are mounted on corresponding leaf springs 62. The first idler roller 28 is in an aperture 64 of the convex guide on the near side of the scanning zone with respect to the direction of paper travel, the idler roller 32 is immediately adjacent the scanning zone on the far side of the scanning zone and the third idler roller 60 is in an aperture 65 of the convex guide at a substantial distance on the far side of the scanning zone.

1 The platen 25 which forms the inner surface of the closure member 42 is formed with three apertures in which are mounted the previously mentioned first drive roller 26, the second drive roller 30 and a third drive roller 66 which cooperates with the third idler roller 65. The three drive rollers 26, 30 and 66 are driven by a suitable motor 68, the motor being directly connected to the first drive roller 26 and being connected to the second and third drive rollers by suitable means including bevel gears and a countershaft 70.

It is contemplated that the three pairs of cooperating rollers will be so positioned that at least two pairs will grip the traveling sheet for stabilization of the sheet as long as any portion of the sheet is in the scanning zone. When a sheet is initially positioned in the apparatus the leading end of the sheet is gripped by the pair of rollers 30 and 32 and an intermediate portion of the sheet is gripped by the pair of rollers 26 and 28-. Before the travelmg sheet moves out of con-tact with the first pair of rollers 26 and 28 the leading end of the sheet is gripped by the third pair of rollers 66 and 60.

The inner concave surface of the platen 25 is formed wi h a circumferen a y ext nd g and 72 at the scan,

ning zone, the platen being shaped with slightly inclined ramps on the opposite sides of the land 72. It is the land 72 that must be accurately concentric to the axis of rotation of the scanning assembly.

With the platen swung open, a sheet of paper to be processed is initially positioned with a longitudinal edge of paper in abutment with a longitudinal guide shoulder 74 of the platen, the configuration of the guide shoulder being shown in section in FIG. 4. The leading end of the newly inserted piece of paper is aligned with a suitable index mark (not shown) on the platen to position the leading end of the paper over the land 72 with the leading end of the paper sufficiently advanced for engagement by the driving roller 30. The motor 68 that actuates the three driving rollers 26, 30 and 66 is deenergized when the closure member 42 is in its open position, a suitable switch being provided to energize the motor automatically when the closure member is closed. One of the three previously mentioned control buttons 52 is employed to deenergize the motor 68 whenever desired while the closure member 42 is closed. A second button is depressed for operation of the unit as a transmitter and a third button is depressed for operation of the unit as a receiver.

The arrangement for accurately positioning the platen at the closed position of the platen includes mating surfaces associated with the platen and the fixed structure, respectively, and further includes a centering pin in cooperation with a positioning recess. The mating surfaces and the centering elements may be in various locations in various embodiments of the invention but in general it is preferred that mating surfaces be provided adjacent opposite edges, respectively, of the platen.

In the construction shown, a flat radial surface 75 associated with the platen 25 at one longitudinal edge of the platen mates with a complementary flat radial surface 76 associated with the fixed structure or convex guide 54 andtwo longitudinally spaced fiat radial surfaces 78 and 80 associated with the platen 25 at the opposite longitudinal edge of the platen mate with two corresponding flat radial surfaces 82 and 84 respectively that are associated with the fixed structure or convex guide 54. Thus three spaced pairs of surfaces provide stable threepoint support for the closed platen. In the construction shown, a positioning pin 85 protrudes forward from the flat surface 76 to cooperate with a positioning recess 86 in the complementary fiat radial surface 75 that is associated with the platen 25.

As heretofore stated, suitable hinge means is provided to hold and guide the closure member 42 and the platen 25 thereof between the maximum open position of the closure shown in FIG. 8 and a nearly closed position shown in FIG. 9. When the platen moves from the partially open position in FIG. 9 towards the fully closed position shown in FIG. the cooperating parts of the hinge separate to leave the platen free for positioning by the above mentioned pairs of mating surfaces in cooperation with the positioning pin 85. An automatic releasing hinge to operate in this manner may be provided in any suitable manner.

In the present embodiment of the invention the hinge structure includes a relatively long hinge pin 88 that is fixedly mounted in a pair of ears 90 of the closure 42. The hinge pin 88 cooperates with two V-shaped hinge seats 92 that are unitary with the fixed structure or convex guide 54. Two coil springs 94 connect the opposite ends respectively of the hinge pin 88 with a downwardly extending arm 95 of the fixed structure of the unit, one of the two coil springs being shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Thus the two coil springs 94 continuously urge the hinge pin or pivot means 88 towards engagement with the hinge seats, each hinge seat being V-shapedin crosssectional configuration for centering action on the hinge pm.

When the platen 25 is swung down to its open position shown in FIG. 8, the two springs 94 are effective to hold the hinge pin 88 in the two hinge seats so that the closure 42 is hingedly supported for movement between the fully open position and the partially closed position shown in FIG. 9. At the partially closed position shown in FIG. 9 the hinge pin 88 is seated in the two hinge seats 92 and the pairs of mating surfaces 78, 82 and 80, 84 respectively are also in mutual contact at a slight angle. FIG. 11 shows the hinge pin 88 firmly centered in a hinge seat 92 and shows the flat surface associated with the platen in line contact with the corresponding flat surface 84 of the fixed structure, the two fiat surfaces being at a slight angle. Beyond this point in the closing movement of the closure member 42, the closure member fulcrums or rocks at the juncture of the lower mating surfaces 78, 82 and 80, 84 respectively to force the hinge pin 88 out of seat members 92 in opposition to the force exerted by the two coil springs 94. Thus FIG. 12 shows the two mating surfaces 80 and 84 in flat face-to-face abutment with the hinge pin 88 displaced out of engagement with the hinge seats 92.

At the closed position of the closure member 42 and the platen 25 thereof, a suitable spring means indicated diagrammatically at 96 in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 engages a hook-like projection 98 on the fixed structure of the unit to urge the upper edge of the platen towards the fixed structure. Thus at the closed position of the platen the lower edge of the platen is urged towards the fixed structure by the two lower coil springs 94 and the upper edge of the platen is urged against the fixed structure by the upper spring means 96.

It is important to note that the hinge pin 88 in cooperation with the hinge seats 92 not only serves to support and guide the closure 42 and the platen 25 thereof throughout the major portion of the closing movement of the platen but also serves to maintain the platen in the required longitudinal alignment with the fixed structure. Thus when the closure in its closing movement reaches the partially closed position shown in FIG. 9, the closure member is in accurate longitudinal alignment with the fixed structure and as the closure moves to its completely closed position, the positioning pin in cooperation with the positioning recess 86 serves to maintain the longitudinal alignment as well as to prevent longitudinal shifting of the closure member.

In the present embodiment of the invention the spring means 96 that is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is incorporated in the construction of the previously mentioned latch 50, the function of the spring means 96 being performed by a resilient cross pin 100 that is made of spring wire, the spring wire being secured at its opposite ends. As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spring wire 100 is mounted at its opposite ends in corresponding ears 102 of a latch lever 104. As best shown in FIG. 7 the latch lever 104 is pivotally mounted on a pair of elongated ears 106 of the closure members 42 by a transverse pivot pin 108.

For cooperation with the spring wire 100, the fixed structure, or more specifically the housing 22, is provided with a fixed latch member 110 that is formed with a rearward directed latching shoulder 112. It is apparent that when the closure member 42 is moved to its closed position shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 the latch lever 104 may be depressed to force the spring wire 100 past the latch shoulder 112 with consequent flexing of the spring wire to provide the required spring force for urging the upper edge of the platen towards the fixed structure of the unit.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is further characterized by the concept of at least partially counterbalancing the closure member 42 at its open position by suitable spring means. The spring means may comprise a torsion spring 113 having one end 114 in engagement with the closure member 42 with the other end 115 of the torsion spring in engagement with the fixed structure of the unit. As indicated in FIG. 3, the end 115 of the torsion spring 113 extends radially along the inner surface of a bracket 116 that is mounted on one of the pedestals 46. The inner surface of the bracket 116 is provided with three somewhat convergent grooves 118 in which the end of the torsion spring may seat selectively. The end of the torsion spring 113 is accessible through a slot 120 in the bracket 116 to permit the end of the torsion spring to be shifted from one groove 118 to another as may be desired. Thus the three grooves 118 make it possible to adjust the torsion spring 113 so that, in effect a torsion spring may be individually calibrated for the desired counterbalancing action.

Preferably the torsion spring 113 acts in two opposite manners. When the closure member is in its fully closed position shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 the torsion spring 113 biases the closure member towards the partially open position shown in FIG. 9. On the other hand, when the closure member is moved to the fully open position shown in FIG. 8 the torsion spring 113 exerts counterbalancing force in the direction of the partially closed position of the closure member. Thus when the closure member is unlatched, it is biased to swing slightly open. The closure member may then be swung to its fully open position shown in FIG. 8.

The manner in which the invention functions for its purpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description. With the unit operating either to transmit or receive, the opening of the closure member 42 deenergizes the various drive rollers. Only light finger pressure is necessary to hold the closure member in its fully open position in opposition to the torsion spring to permit the operator to place a sheet of paper on the inner surface of the platen with a longitudinal edge of the paper in abutment with the longitudinal guide shoulder 74 and with the leading end of the piece of paper positioned at the index to place the leading margin of the paper across the land 72 at the scanning zone. The operator may then swing the closure member upward to latch the closure member at its closed position whereupon the three drive rollers are energized to move the paper progressively through the scanning zone at the desired predetermined rate. The operator may observe the travel of the paper through the window 45. The paper is ultimately discharged at the right end of the device by the drive rollers.

It is apparent that the hinge structure serves its primary purpose of supporting the closure member 42 throughout the major portion of its range of movement but becomes disjointed at the fully closed position of the closure member to permit the platen to be accurately positioned by the previously described three pairs of mating surfaces together with the positioning pin 85 and the cooperating positioning recess 86.

My description in specific detail of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described wherein a sheet to be copied or printed is curved to conform to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and is movable longitudinally of the section through a transverse scanning zone with the transverse zone cyclically traversed by scanning means moving orbitally about the axis of curvature of the cylinder section, the combination of:

fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide for cooperation with the inner curved surface of the sheet and having a transverse opening to clear said zone; and

a platen to overlie the convex guide forward thereof to form therewith a cylindrically curved guideway for the sheet, said platen having a transverse inner surface concentric to said axis of curvature for guiding contact with the outer curved surface of the sheet along the scanning zone, the platen being provided with a configuration corresponding to the longitudinal section of the cylinder,

said platen being in the form of a closure movable between an upright closed position at which it cooperates with the convex guide to form said guideway and a forward lower open position at which it affords access to the inner side of the platen to facilitate feeding of successive sheets to the device, the platen being constructed to hold the sheet in the cylindrical configuration in the open and closed positions of the platen and being disposed relative to the guide in the closed position to cooperate with the guide in retaining the sheet in the cylindrical configuration.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes power-actuated means on one of said convex guide and said platen to engage the sheet and move the sheet at a predetermined rate along said guideway and through the scanning zone in a direction corresponding to the axis of the longitudinal section of the cylinder.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said convex guide is provided with a plurality of idler rollers spaced longitudinal therewith for contact with the inner curved side of the sheet in the closed position of the platen; and

in which corresponding power-actuated rollers are mounted on the platen to cooperate with the idler rollers only in the closed position of the platen to grip the sheet at each of the idler rollers.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which the platen carries three drive rollers paired with three corresponding idler rollers on the convex guide. only in the closed position of the platen, said three pairs of rollers being spaced longitudinally of the platen and positioned relative to the scanning zone for a minimum of two pairs of rollers to grip the sheet throughout the travel of the sheet across the scanning zone in the direction corresponding to the axis of the longitudinal section of the cylinder.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which one of said pairs of rollers is on the near side of the scanning zone with respect to the direction of travel of the sheet across the scanning zone and the other two pairs of roll ers are on the far side of the scanning zone.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said platen has an upper longitudinal edge and a lower longitudinal edge, the platen being movably mounted on the fixed structure to swing outward at its upper edge to an open position; and

in which the platen is formed with fixed means on its inner face near its lower longitudinal edge to serve as a stop for abutment with the lower edge of the sheet for correctly positioning the sheet on the platen.

7. A comination as set forth in claim 6 in which said stop comprises a longitudinal shoulder to guide the sheet in its longitudinal movement.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said platen is movably mounted on said fixed structure with a lower longitudinal edge of the platen pivotally related to the fixed structure and with an upper longitudinal edge of the platen swingable outward from the fixed structure for access to the inner side of the platen; and

which includes spring means to at least partially counterbalance the platen at its open position.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said spring means include a torsion spring and in which one end of said torsion spring is adjustable to vary the torque force exerted by the spring.

10. In a device of the character described wherein a fixed structure has a longitudinal axis and a closure member with an inner surface of the configuration of a longitudinal section of a cylinder is mounted on the fixed structure for movement between an open position and a closed position at which closed position the axis of curvature of said inner surface coincides with said longitudinal axis, means to insure accurate concentric positioning of the closure member at its closed positon, comprising:

paired mating surfaces on the closure member and fixed structure respectively near one edge of the closure member;

paired mating surfaces on the closure member and the fixed structure respectively near an opposite edge of the closure;

a positioning projection on one of said fixed structure and closure member;

a positioning recess on the other of said fixed structure and closure member to receive said projection telescopically;

first yielding means adjacent one edge of the closure member cooperative with the fixed structure to urge the closure member against the fixed structure; and

second yielding means adjacent an opposite edge of the closure member to urge the closure member against the fixed structure,

said two yielding means cooperating to maintain said pairs of surfaces in mutual contact and to maintain said projection in said recess at the closed position of the closure member.

11. A combination as set forth in claim in which one of said yielding means is releasable to permit the closure member to swing to open position.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which at least one pair of mating surfaces is adjacent one longitudinal edge of the closure and at least one pair of mating surfaces is adjacent another longitudinal edge of the closure.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said one of said yielding means in incorporated in a latch for releasably maintaining the closure member at its closed position.

14. In a device of the character described wherein a fixed struture has a longitudinal axis and a closure member has an inner surface of the configuration of a longitudinal section of a cylinder, means to mount the closure member on the fixed structure for movement of the closure member between an open position and a closed position with assurance that the axis of curvature of the inner surface of the closure member will coincide with said longitudinal axis at the closed position of the closure member, comprising:

paired surfaces on the fixed structure and closure member respectively adjacent one edge of the closure member to mate at the closed position of the closure member;

paired surfaces on the fixed structure and closure member respectively adjacent the opposite edge of the closure member to mate at the closed position of the closure member;

yielding means to urge the closure member towards the fixed structure at the closed position of the closure member;

pivot seat means on one of said fixed structure and closure member; and

complementary pivot means on the other of said fixed structure and closure member to seat in said seat means for pivotal movement of the closure member between its closed position and its open position,

said pivot seat means and pivot means being positioned on said fixed structure and closure member respectively to be separated at the closed position of the closure member and to be mutually engaged for pivot action when the closure member is swung to slightly open position whereby the pivot seat means and the pivot means cooperate to pivot and guide the closure member from a maximum open position to a nearly closed position and then disengage to permit the closure member to rock on the fixed structure from its nearly closed position to its fully closed position.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 which in cludes yielding means in the region of said pivot seat means and the cooperating pivot means to urge the seat means and cooperative pivot means into mutual engagement at the maximum open position of the closure member.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said pivot means is a pivot rod and in which said yielding means includes a pair of springs acting between the fixed structure and each of the opposite ends of the pivot rod.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said pivot seat means is of V-shaped cross-sectional configuration and said pivot means is of circular crosssectional configuration.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which a projection on one of said fixed structure and closure member enters a recess on the other of said fixed structure and closure member at the closed position of the closure member to limit movement of the closure member relative to the fixed structure along said pairs of surfaces.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said closure member has an upper longitudinal edge and a lower longitudinal edge and is swingable downward about its lower longitudinal edge and which includes spring means to at least partially counterbalance the closure member at its open position.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said yielding means includes spring means releasable to permit the closure member to swing from its closed positron to its open position; and

in which said releasable yielding means is a spring means incorporated in a latch for releasably holding the closure member in its closed position,

21. In a combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said latch is pivotally mounted on one of said fixed structure and said closure member;

in which said latch includes a transverse resilient pin anchored at its opposite ends;

in which the other of said fixed structure and closure member incorporates means engageable with an intermediate portion of said pin to fiex the pin when the latch is engaged thereby to urge the closure member against the fixed structure.

22. In a device of the character described wherein a sheet to be copied or printed is curved to conform to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and is movable longitudinally of the section through a transverse scanning zone with the transverse zone cyclically transversed by scanning means moving orbitally about the axis of curvature of the cylinder section, the combination of:

fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide for cooperation wi h the inner curved surface of the sheet and having a transverse opening to clear said zone,

a housing forming a rearwardly facing convex surface substantially defining a cylinder with the guide,

a platen defining a section of a cylinder and movable between an open position and a closed position substantially co-axial with the guide, the platen being constructed to hold the sheet in the cylindrical configuration in the open and closed positions and during the movement of the platen between the open and closed positions, and

means cooperative with the platen and the housing to lock the platen to the housing in the closed position of the housing with the platen defining a cylinder with the housing.

23. In the device set forth in claim 22, the means cooperative with the platen and the housing and including means at one end of the platen and the housing for retaining the platen in closed relationship to the housing and including means a the other end of the platen and the housing for producing a controlled movement of the platen to the closed position to produce the cylindrical relationship between the platen and the housing.

24. In a device of the character described wherein a sheet to be copied or printed is curved to conform to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and is movable longitudinally of the section through a transverse scanning zone with the transverse zone cyclically traversed by scanning means moving orbitally about the axis of curvature of the cylinder section, the combination of:

fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide for cooperation with the inner curved surface of the sheet and having a transverse opening to clear said zone,

a platen disposed externally of the guide and movable between a closed position and an open position, the platen having a curvature corresponding to that of the convex guide and being disposed in the closed position in spaced relationship with the guide but following the contour of the guide, the platen being constructed to hold the sheet in the curved configuration in the open and closed positions and during the movement of the platen between the open and closed positions,

means disposed in cooperative relationship with the platen for guiding the platen to the closed position and for insuring that the platen in the closed position follows the contour of the guide,

first means supported by the guide for providing for a movement of the sheet in a direction corresponding to the axis of the section of the cylinder when the platen is in the closed position, and

second means supported by the platen for cooperating with the first means only in the closed position of the platen to obtain a movement of the sheet in the direction corresponding to the axis of the section of the cylinder.

25. In the device set forth in claim 24,

a housing forming a rearwardly facing convex surface substantially defining a cylinder with the platen in the closed position of the platen and the means disposed in cooperative relationship with the platen also being in cooperative relationship with the housing for guiding the platen to the closed position and for insuring that the platen in the closed position follows the contour of the guide.

26. In the device set forth in claim 25,

transducer means rotatably disposed within the cylinder defined by the housing and the platen to scan the sheet in the closed position of the platen as the transducer means are rotated.

27. In the device set forth in claim 26, the platen being provided with a land and the transducer means being rotatable past the land.

28. In the device set forth in claim 27, the platen being transparent to provide for a visual inspection of the sheet disposed on the platen.

29. In a device of the character described wherein a sheet to be copied or printed is curved to conform to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and is movable longitudinally of the section through a transverse scanning zone with the transverse zone cyclically traversed by scanning means moving orbitally about the axis of curvature of the cylinder section, the combination of:

fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide for cooperation with the inner curved surface of the sheet and having a transverse opening to clear said zone,

a platen movable between open and closed positions and constructed to hold the sheet in the curved configuration in the open and closed positions and during the movement of the platen between the open and closed positions, the platen having a curvature conforming to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and having a common axis with the guide in the closed position of the platen,

means associated with the platen for insuring that the platen is moved to the closed position so that its axis is common with the axis of the guide,

transducer means disposed internally of the guide and rotatable in an axis common with the axis of the guide, and

a land on the platen past which the transducer means are rotated.

30. In the device set forth in claim 29, means disposed in cooperative relationship with the guide and the platen in the closed position of the platen for moving the sheet in a direction corresponding to the axis of the guide during the rotation of the transducer means past the land.

31. In the device set forth in claim 30, the means for moving the sheet in the axial direction including first rotatable means supported by the guide and second rotatable means supported by the platen and movable into cooperative relationship with the first rotatable means in the closed position of the platen for driving the sheet in the direction corresponding to the axis of the guide.

32. In the device set forth in claim 30,

a housing,

means including a spring disposed betwen the platen and the housing and including a pivot pin on the platen in engaging relationship with the housing for supporting the platen relative to the housing to provide for a movement of the platen between the open and closed positions, and

means including particular surfaces on the platen and the housing for guiding the movement of the platen to a particular relationship with the housing in the closed position as the platen approaches the closed position.

33. In the device set forth in claim 32,

the guiding means including the particular surfaces on the platen and the housing being constructed to move the pivot pin from the housing as the platen approaches the closed position.

34. In a device of the character described wherein a sheet to be copied or printed is curved to conform to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and is movable longitudinally of the section through a transverse scanning zone with the transverse zone cyclically traversed by scanning means moving orbitally about the axis of curvature of the cylinder section, the combination of:

fixed structure forming a forwardly facing convex guide for cooperation with the inner curved surface of the sheet and having a transverse opening to clear said zone,

a platen movable between open and closed positions and constructed to hold the sheet in the curved configuration in the open and closed positions and during the movement of the platen between the open and closed positions, the platen having a curvature conforming to a longitudinal section of a cylinder and having a common axis with the guide in the closed position of the platen,

a housing forming a rearwardly facing convex surface, first means disposed in cooperative relation with the platen and the housing for providing a controlled movement of the platen toward a closed position,

second means disposed in cooperative relation with the platen and the housing for disengaging the first means from the cooperative relationship between the platen and the housing when the platen nears the closed position and for guiding the platen to the closed position in a particular disposition relative to the housing, and

third means for locking the platen to the housing in the closed position of the platen.

35. The combination set forth in claim 34 wherein the first and second means are disposed at one end of the platen and the housing and the third means are disposed at the other end of the platen and the housing.

36. The combination set forth in claim 35 wherein the first means include a spring extending between the platen and the housing and a pivot pin on the platen in abutting relationship with the housing during the movement of the platen toward the closed position.

37. The combination set forth in claim 35 wherein the second means include abutting surfaces on the platen and the housing.

38. The combination set forth in claim 35 wherein first roller means are supported by the guide and second roller means are supported by the platen and become disposed in cooperative relationship with the first roller means in the closed position of the platen to move the sheet on the platen in a direction corresponding to the axis of the section of the cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,580 12/1944 Young 1787.6 2,443,953 6/1948 Gillespie 1786.6

ROBERT L. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner R. K. ECKERT, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 178-66 

